--- title: "Stephen L. Nelson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-nelson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Stephen L. Nelson Utah Third District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Third District Court - State: Utah - Role: District Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Nelson also serves as an instructor in the University of Utah’s Department of Political Science and has taught thousands of undergraduate and graduate students over the course of his 20+ year teaching career ### Education - University of Maine School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine — J.D. ### Additional information - Appointed to the Third District Court in November 2023 by Governor Spencer J. Cox. - Judge Nelson graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2002 and graduated from the University of Utah with a Ph.D. in Political Science in 2010. - Immediately prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Nelson was an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. - Prior to his federal service, Judge Nelson was a Deputy District Attorney with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted neighborhood narcotics offenses, gang crime, and homicides. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic media coverage Scope: statewide Utah permits electronic media coverage of public proceedings under statewide UCJA procedures, including proceedings conducted by remote transmission. Evidence excerpt: This rule governs electronic media coverage of proceedings that are open to the public, including proceedings conducted by remote transmission. [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### media request process Scope: statewide Utah requires requests for electronic media coverage to be made through the court's public information office. Evidence excerpt: All requests to provide electronic media coverage shall be made to the court’s public information office. [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### portable electronic devices Scope: statewide Utah permits possession and use of portable electronic devices in courthouses unless limited by UCJA Rule 4-401.02 or by directive of the judge. Evidence excerpt: A person may possess and use a portable electronic device anywhere in a courthouse, except as limited by this rule or directive of the judge. [UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording photography transmission Scope: statewide Utah prohibits recording, photographing, or transmitting images or sound of court proceedings with portable electronic devices unless allowed under the electronic-media rule or another stated exception. Evidence excerpt: A person may not use a portable electronic device to record, photograph, or transmit images or sound of court proceedings, except in accordance with rule 4-401.01 or subsection (2)(D) above. [UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/stephen-l-nelson.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/stephen-l-nelson.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/stephen-l-nelson.html) - [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01) - [UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02) - [JUDGE STEPHEN L. NELSON](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/stephen-l-nelson.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-nelson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-nelson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Stephen L. Nelson | KnowJudges", "description": "Stephen L. Nelson, Utah Third District Court. 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Nelson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-nelson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-66e618d152d2df53d660e797) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01). Collected 2026-07-26. - [UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-5b4e5d61b330f356e2af7caf) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02). Collected 2026-07-26.